After gaining recognition through several EPs and singles, British singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone has returned with her sophomore album: “Cruel World.”
“Cruel World,” released on April 10, is a diversion from Humberstone’s previous works. Though the album maintains the ideals of love, depths of heartbreak, and struggles of growing up, it presents new elements: a gothic, dark fantasy aesthetic and a positive spin on negative emotions.
Humberstone is known for her intimate lines and melancholic aura. “Cruel World” justifies this reputation with its diary-like lyrics and mystical sounds. Humberstone’s talent as an artist becomes more clear with each release, and her ability to teleport listeners into her creative fantasies is apparent.
The album, as described by Humberstone in an interview by NME, was inspired by “stories about alternative universes where, you know, the main character kinda goes into this underworld, this upside down to try to escape growing up and to kind of avoid reality.”
Not only does “Cruel World” demonstrate Humberstone’s development as an artist; it also displays her growth as a human being. With a new perspective on love and loss, Humberstone has a fresh, mature outlook on life, guiding listeners inside her experience of living in a “cruel world” and the knowledge she has gained from it.
Each song on this album is carefully crafted and special in its own way. However, there were several tracks that especially stood out.
“To Love Somebody” is one of them. Besides its extremely catchy melody, the song conveys an important message to listeners: it is all right to experience heartbreak, because an important aspect of the human experience is feeling everything. When singing “To love somebody/To hurt somebody/To lose somebody/Is to know you’re only human, honey/To lovе somebody/To hurt somebody/To lose somеbody/Well, at least you got to love somebody, Humberstone expresses that being able to love is a gift rather than a misfortune, and that loving and losing is just part of the cycle of life.
“Cruel World,” the title track, is another standout song on the album, stringing the entire piece together. This song is about a long-distance relationship and how missing a person can cause an entire reality shift. When discussing the song with Apple Music, Humberstone describes it as “cheeky and fun…the euphoric feeling that comes with being in love, matched with some darker-toned lyrics,” illustrating that long-distance relationships can be exciting but also vulnerable.
Lastly, my favorite track in Humberstone’s album is “Beauty Pageant.” Containing extremely honest lyricism, this song is the perfect conclusion for the album. It conveys the struggles of being a woman in current society and the pressures to be loved and admired as someone in the limelight. Humberstone sings, “I’ll strike a pose, I’m ready/Come on and make me pretty/The stage is yours/Don’t forget to have a ball/One day, I’ll make you love me/Come on and make me pretty,” exhibiting a desperation of approval from the audience.
Overall, I give “Cruel World” 4.5 stars because of its storytelling elements, delicate vocals, and unique style. My only complaints include the overproduction of some songs, such as “White Noise,” which would be more impactful with quieter beats and a softer voice. The album could also be more diverse, as most of the tracks cover the same topic of love.
“Cruel World” as a whole, however, is a masterpiece. Humberstone’s incredible voice, detailed songwriting, and dreamy vibe has already gained major commendation from fans. Clearly, Humberstone outdid herself with this album and is one of the most underrated artists of this generation.
“Cruel World” is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, and other major streaming platforms. Go take a listen.
